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Paradoxical embolism: a rare life- and limb-threatening emergency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Christine E. Tang
Christine E. Tang*
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga, Ont
*
Credit Valley Hospital, 2200 Eglinton Ave. West, Mississauga ON L5M 2N1; [email protected]

Abstract

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This article presents a case of a 43-year-old man with paradoxical embolism. The patient had simultaneous deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and bilateral limb-threatening arterial occlusions. The unifying diagnosis was paradoxical embolism through a previously undetected atrial septal defect. Suggestions for the evaluation and emergency management of paradoxical embolism are outlined, and the literature is briefly reviewed.

Keywords

paradoxical embolismdeep venous thrombosispulmonary embolismarterial occlusionsatrial septal defect
Type
Case Report • Observations De Cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 40 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2004

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